Members of the New Peoples Army (NPA) belonging to the Pulang Bagani Command celebrate the 40th Founding Anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) somewhere in Davao City on Friday, December 26, 2008. The NPA, which is the armed wing of the CPP, has been fighting for the establishment of the Marxist state in the Philippines since 1968. AKP Images/ Keith Bacongco

MANILA (Mabuhay) – Around 100 members of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines – Southern Tagalog (NDFP-ST) held a protest in Philcoa, Quezon City as the New People’s Army (NPA) celebrated its 45th anniversary Saturday.

The NDFP-ST slammed the Aquino administration for its alleged illegal arrests of members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA-NDFP-ST.

Citing the arrests of top communist leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon and Andrea Rosal, daughter of former NPA spokesman Gregorio “Ka Roger” Rosal, the NDFP-ST said the government is not really serious in its peace negotiations with the communists.